Changing the Timing Belt in a 1990 Volvo 760 2.3 8V

The 1990 Volvo 760 2.3 8V engine, a freewheeling engine, is one of the easier timing belt changes. It takes only just under three hours to complete the job. Because the engine is freewheeling, if the belt stretches past its useful life, an over-stretched belt will most likely not cause extensive engine damage. Volvo has not recommended a specific interval to change the timing belt, but previous service use and history states that you should replace the timing belt every 60,000 miles, to avoid the inconvenience of being stranded.

Remove the upper cooling fan cover and the cooling fan using the appropriate sockets or wrenches. The accessory drive belts use two different types of tensioners. If a tensioner is a slider, loosen the bolt and push the accessory toward the engine. If the tensioner is a pulley, use a wrench to turn the pulley toward the engine. Lift the belts off the pulleys. Remove the upper timing belt cover using the appropriate socket.

Turn the crankshaft clockwise until the timing marks on the crankshaft are lined up at the 11 o'clock position. Check the timing marks on the camshaft and the intermediate sprocket. The camshaft timing marks line up at the 11 o'clock position and the timing marks on the intermediate sprocket line up at the 3 o'clock position. Unbolt and remove the timing belt tensioner nut and washer. Install the damper locking wrench on the damper and tensioner. Screw the tensioner nut on to retain the tool.

Remove the crankshaft damper bolt, the damper locking wrench, the crankshaft damper washer, the damper locking wrench, the crankshaft damper and the lower timing belt cover using the appropriate sockets. Check that the timing marks are still lined up. Install the tensioner nut and washer loosely. Pull on the timing belt to compress the tensioner spring. Lock the tensioner by sliding a 3 mm drill bit into the tensioner. Lift the timing belt off the sprockets and pulleys. Check that the timing marks are still lined up.

Install the timing belt, starting on the crankshaft. Make sure the marks on the timing belt line up with the marks on the crankshaft sprocket. Route the belt over the front of the intermediate shaft sprocket and up to the camshaft sprocket. Keep the belt taut on the non-tensioned side. Route the belt over the top of the camshaft sprocket and down behind the tensioner pulley. Make sure the timing marks are still lined up.

Pull the belt to compress the tensioner spring. Pull the 3 mm drill bit out of the tensioner. Install the lower timing belt cover, crankshaft damper, damper bolt and washer. Remove the tensioner nut and washer, then install the damper locking wrench and tensioner. Tighten the crankshaft damper bolt to 44 foot-pounds of torque at +60 degrees. Remove the damper locking wrench. Lightly tighten the tensioner nut and washer.

Turn the crankshaft clockwise two complete turns until the timing marks are lined up again. Loosen the tensioner nut and allow the tensioner to put tension on the belt. Tighten the tensioner nut enough to hold it in place. Install the rest of the parts in reverse order of removal.

Start the engine and allow it to warm up to normal operating temperature. Turn the engine off. Remove the rubber plug from the timing case.*

Turn the crankshaft until the timing notch on the crankshaft pulley lines up with the zero mark on the gauge. Loosen the tensioner nut by inserting the appropriate socket in the hole in the timing case. Allow the tensioner to put tension on the belt again, then tighten the nut. Replace the rubber plug. Repeat from * after 600 miles.